Heterodontus zebra (Gray, 1831)
Zebra bullhead shark
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Heterodontidae (Bullhead, horn, or Port Jackson sharks)
Max. size:  125 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 200 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Japan to northwestern Australia (Ref. 6871) and Queensland.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 0-0. The Zebra bullhead shark, Heterodontus zebra, has a large blunt head, low supra-orbital crest gradually sloping behind eyes, dorsal fin spines, anal fin, and zebra-pattern of dark, narrow vertical bands on a pale background (Ref. 9838; 6871). As characteristic of members of the family, caudal fin with a moderately long dorsal lobe and moderately long ventral lobe, the latter shorter than the dorsal lobe, vertebral axis raised into caudal-fin lobe (Ref.9838).
Biology:  A common but little-known shark found on the continental and insular shelves in depths down to at least 50 m (Ref. 247, 11230) in the South China Sea, but deeper and in 150 - 200 meters off Western Australia (Ref. 43278). Probably feeds on bottom invertebrates and small fishes (Ref. 6871). Oviparous (Ref. 247).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 May 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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